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She stops as I tense, my eyes narrowing. “Have we…?”
The girl blushes even more, her nose wrinkling. “God, worst first impression ever. I’m sorry, hi…” She sticks her hand out. “Bianca.” She smiles weakly. “I’m, uh, Dante’s sister.”
Oh.
“Iswear, drenching you was not in the plan! And it’s just ice water, I promise! But if it screws up your dress,pleaselet me know. I’m happy to cover the dry-cleaning.”
There’s not a single ounce of malice on her face. In fact, this girl is so sweet and exudes so much innocence that I’m struggling to accept the reality that she’sDante’ssister. But when I stop and really look at her…yeah, there’s no question she is.
The same nose, same cheekbones, even the same eyes, to an almost freakish degree.
She smiles apologetically. “Seriously, I’m so sorry. I was just coming over to say hi, but then you turned so fast—” she stammers. “I mean, notat allto imply it’s your fault, I just?—”
I cut her off with a grin, taking her hand and shaking it warmly. “Tempest, hi. Seriously, don’t worry about it at all.”
Bianca visibly relaxes.
“So…” I mumble. “We’re going to be sisters, I guess.”
“Yeah. I’m just sorry for you that it entails marrying my brother.”
I chuckle as she blushes.
“I mean, don’t get me wrong! I love him and all, but… Yeah, no, I can’t imagine being married to him.”
“Well, that makes two of us.”
She laughs, biting her lip a little shyly as she eyes me. “By the way, I heard what you did with the whole blood marker thing.” She dips her chin. “That was pretty badass.”
I spread my arms. “It’s a gift.”
Bianca laughs again. “Can I get you another drink or something?”
I shake my head, nodding to the gin and tonic on the bar that I’ve barely touched. “Thanks, but I don’t really drink much.”
“Me neither,” she shrugs. “I’m a dancer. Body is a temple and all that.”
Somewhere in the back of my mind, I remember Gabriel mentioning this.
“Oh yeah, ballet, right?”
She nods. “Yeah. SAB.”
Her eyes dart past me, and I catch the way her breath catches and her body tenses a little.
“Shit.”
I frown as she ducks down, moving closer to me as if trying to hide behind me. I glance over my shoulder, shivering slightly when Dante’s eyes catch mine from out on the balcony. But the younger man standing next to him is also looking our way with a dark expression. I’m guessing that’s who Bianca is trying to avoid.
“Come on,” I say quietly, taking her arm. “Let’s get out of here.”
Her nose wrinkles. “I think Dante would prefer it if I stay. I’m supposed to make the rounds of the room and?—”
“Bianca. He’s your brother, not your boss.” I glance out to the balcony again. Dante and the other man are still talking heatedly. When I turn back to her, Bianca’s still chewing on her lip uncertainly.
“Okay,” she finally blurts with a shy grin. “But first…” She turns and smiles at the bartender. “I’ll have one of whatever she’s having.”
“Your brother is going to kill me for being a bad influence, isn’t he?”
